Blueberry Picking

Well, yesterday was blueberry picking. We tried a new place much closer to home, Hillview Farms in Gillette. With Jen still feeling the same, I was hoping being so close to home would make it easier. Didn't start out too well as Jen felt pretty bad but by the time we got there, her medicine kicked in.

We picked up our baskets and walk across the street to the "bobbing heads". Sounded a little funny. We walked through some planted rows (about an acre's worth) and I was completely amazed, 6'-7' tall blueberry bushes, rows and rows....each row probably 500' long.

Although there was complete excitement on Jack and Charlotte's part, there was a calm that sort of came over us, a distinct mission at hand. Charlotte ate every berry that she picked over the hour or so of picking, Jack needed to fill up his pail entirely by taking mine, Jen had the determination and patience to pick only the very ripest, roundest and largest of the millions of berries around us and I was just plain happy, something about being outside picking right from the bush has had more and more of a draw for me than ever before.

I am probably going to register for Margret Noon's library talk on Slow Food.org. I did quite a bit of research and is seems to be focused on local, sustainability, etc... concepts that I am feeling more and more strongly about. There is so much to know, so much out there, and even with what Jen and I already know, I feel like we are in the dark.

The garden overall is going well. the Sultan Beans are now ripe and I picked the first few, the picking cukes are now starting as well, 3-4 every other day. No Slicing or lemon cukes though. Zuc's and Squash have take off and I now need to figure out how to freeze, store, cook more than I care to admit. Knowing that there would be a lot per plant, I only planted two of each but it seems these 4 plants are producing more than any other plant I have ever had or seen.

Tomatoes are growing well. As are the beets. I picked my first beet and I now think I can pick all of them as I wish. Since these are root crops, I will leave them in the ground until I am ready to use them. I am thinking about a recipe that Cheryl mentioned, Roasted Fennel and Beets. Sounds good.....need to try that. There are many more green tomatoes but none turning. My only problem is one of the Black cherry plants next to the house is skyrocketing in size to almost 7', wilting and I had to stake it today.

Cooking Chard

Jen is sick today again with her vertigo, babysitter until 1:30, me and the kids the rest of the day. Although I wish I could help Jen more than I am, I am excited to have so much alone time with the kids. Today was a hard day, I was short and not too understanding but I think I managed.

This is the second week with picking up Tiffany and Sandy's CSA share. Seems mostly green and 600 per year seems like a lot up front so I want to see what they get each week. This week was Dill, Parsley, Basil, Rainbow Chard, Lettuce, Cukes, Squash, etc...

Never using Chard before, I tried a quick recipe and it was great!

Sauteed Chard

• 3 Cloves Chopped Garlic
• 2 Tbspn Olive Oil
• 1 Tbspn Butter
• Chard, de-ribbed, cut into 1" ribbons

With butter and Oil heated, saute garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add chard into an even layer and let sit for 4 minutes. Turn over and let sit for 4 minutes. Mix and cook for another 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Garden is growing quick after 3 days of rain, especially the watermelon and cukes. I picked 4 or 5 pickling cukes but have not seen any of the other two varieties. There are about 10-15 new green tomatoes and several large Zucs. The watermelon is growing up to 1 foot a day now.